Drabble #100: Fresh
Friday, 1 January 2021 05:07![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jalenstrix in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
labyfic...we had a quieter response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 99, with an entry by me (your intrepid drabble proposer
jalenstrix).For this prompt, we continue with our one-word/phrase drabble roots:
Fresh
What's fresh? Is it a fresh perspective? Fresh fallen snow? Someone getting fresh? Tell us all about it labyfic-style!
Given our entries from recent months, let's continue with the suggested limit for this month of 500 words. Though remember that shorter pieces are most definitely welcome!
Your entry should take the following format, posted as a comment on this entry:
Word count: # of words
Drabble: $your_beautiful_drabble
I'll aim to get the next drabble challenge out on the first Friday of next month (February 5).
I'm also very happy to take suggestions if something in particular strikes your fancy -- comment on this post or PM me with your suggestions. You can see our current collected suggestions here.
Remember: Feedback is LOVE. So do reply to your fellow labyficcers' drabbles if so inclined. (Though be careful of concrit unless specifically okayed by the author beforehand.)
no subject
2021-02-01 23:43 (UTC)Drabble:
Jareth appeared in the doorway, the air of command settling around him in a cloak of icy shadow. His expression brooked no argument.
I glanced blearily at him, and returned to reading through the latest email missive.
His foot started tapping, the pointed toe clicking smartly against the floor. “You need to step back. Get a breath of fresh air. Clear your mind.”
I rested my eyes on him again. I’d intended to glare with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, but I just didn’t have the energy. Plus, he was easy on the eyes, and my eyes could use some ease after hours of dealing with departmental nonsense.
He crossed his arms. “Well?”
I brushed half-heartedly at the Jareth-generated frost forming over my display screen, and then traced a frowny face through it. “I hate being chair of my department sometimes.”
“So don’t be. I don’t know why you insist on keeping your position in the mortal world, let alone one that brings you such aggravation.”
“They need me.”
“Pah.”
“Don’t you ‘pah’ me. I founded that department, I forged us into an interdisciplinary powerhouse with scads of funding, and now I have to keep this party going — stop rolling your eyes!”
He cocked his head to the side. “So this powerhouse department you’ve forged would crumble to dust without you at the helm, hmmm? Sauron called, and says he can give you lessons in how to forge.”
My lips twitched up in a brief smile. “That’s right, pull a Lord of the Rings reference. Make fun.”
“Or is it that you enjoy internecine political machinations? I guarantee ours are far more interesting in Faerie. Though no less petty, of course. And our diplomats could use an experienced hand.”
“Funny. Very funny. Do you have any practical suggestions, or have you just come to frost my electronics into oblivion?”
“Yes. Detach yourself from that infernal device—“
“I can’t! There are at least 30 more emails I have to respond to today.”
“Mmhmm.” He snapped his fingers and my display was instantly covered in a crystalline glacier sheet.
Well. I whipped out my tablet.
Another fingersnap. Another glacial glaze.
I snatched up my smartphone.
Jareth raised an eyebrow and poised his fingers.
“Fine.” I set the phone on my desk. “Just because I ignore the emails doesn’t mean they go away. They just multiply. Like mutant amoebae.”
In the space between breaths, he was behind me, his dexterous hands running gently down my shoulders and kneading in all the right places. “So let them multiply for awhile.”
I slumped forward in momentary muscular bliss. “How long is awhile?”
His scent washed over me, frost and Faerie and familiar as my own heartbeat.
“Long enough for serious distraction.” His mouth hovered against the back of my neck, hot and possessive. “I have some particular ideas on the details.”
“You always have such good ideas.”
“If only my wife would listen to them more often.”
“I’m listening now.”
“Oh good.”
no subject
2022-08-30 10:51 (UTC)no subject
2022-08-30 16:23 (UTC)Wrest
2022-08-30 10:53 (UTC)Drabble:
The healer had checked Jareth, assured him that he was fine, if exhausted, and would need a good night’s rest. He confirmed that Sarah was indeed suffering from shock, which he treated before insisting that they both eat the meal he’d summoned from the kitchens.
Sarah finished her soup, but felt like she’d been shoved to the periphery of things for far too long. Collecting their trays and setting them aside, she returned to bed and turned to face Jareth.
“What attacked you?”
Jareth looked surprisingly pleased with himself for someone who’d been knocked out and pincushioned.
“I know that face.” Sarah glared at Jareth’s huge grin. “What did you do?”
“I had a theory about your magic, so when our practice session didn't produce the expected results, I improvised.” He pulled Sarah into his arms and tucked her head under his chin.
“Jareth?” Sarah growled in annoyance.
“The one time you performed magic that advanced you were protecting someone you cared about, so I gave you someone to defend.”
“You did what? I was terrified that I’d killed you.” Sarah tried to pull away but Jareth held her tightly.
“But you didn’t, my love.” He rubbed a hand up and down her back to calm her. “That’s why Rook and Bishop were there.”
Sarah grumbled. “They behaved like EMTs with an oral fetish.”
“I suppose it would look like that.” Jareth huffed in amusement. “The guardsmen are tough to kill in general and their innate magic allows them to heal themselves rapidly. They can also heal others, but there are limitations.”
“Let me guess, fluid transfer.” Sarah ran her fingers over Jareth’s thigh where there should have been a scar. “I can see how that could be problematic.”
“Clever girl.” Jareth tilted Sarah’s face up, kissing her gently. “We discussed it beforehand and thought that using blood might have been a bit too much in the stress of the situation.”
Sarah conceded that he was undoubtedly correct in that regard.
“What you did today was remarkable. You produced an offensive weapon using ice, a shield to protect me and you removed my apparition. I am so proud of you.”
“But I still hurt you.” Sarah’s heart clenched at the memory of seeing Jareth injured by her hand. Logically, Sarah understood that if Jareth had warned her beforehand, then she likely wouldn’t have been able to react as she did, but it still hurt.
“An unexpected clash of our magic, we’ll compensate next time,” Jareth scoffed. “You have spectacular offensive and defensive magic that seems to be triggered by protective urges. I have a suspicion that you’re subconsciously drawing from the Labyrinth. Perhaps we can work with that.”
“Try and find another way of testing me next time.” Sarah pleaded as she drummed her fingers on her husband’s chest. “And don’t think I’ve forgotten about your tongue down Bishop’s throat.”
“Well, he had just healed a traumatic head wound, so it only seemed polite to thank him for his services.”
Re: Wrest
2022-08-30 17:10 (UTC)Re: Wrest
2022-08-30 19:55 (UTC)